Local officials are beginning to decide if they want medical marijuana businesses in their communities before the state starts giving out licenses next year. Wochit

A marijuana leaf.(Photo: Dreamstime/TNS)

LANSING — The doors at the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will open at 8 a.m. Friday to begin accepting applications and fees from people who want to get a license for the lucrative medical marijuana business.

The department also will accept license applications online, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, accompanied with the $6,000 application fee that can be paid via credit card or electronic check.

For people who want to turn in their applications in person on Friday at the state Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office at 611 Ottawa in Lansing, the state will accept cash, check, money orders or credit cards to pay the $6,000 application fee. While banks may balk at dealing with marijuana businesses down the line because that could jeopardize their standing with the federal government, which still views marijuana as an illegal drug, checks for the initial application fees won’t be a problem.

The state will be accepting applications for five categories of medical marijuana licenses: grower, processor, testing facility, secure transporter and dispensary. The Bureau of Medical Marijuana Licensing is expected to begin awarding licenses